IN BRIEF.

A Call For Changing Leave Policies

May 10, 2000|By Donna Bozzo. Compiled by Cassandra West.

Researchers are calling for better maternity leave policies since the release of a University of Michigan Health Systems study. After observing 160,000 pregnant women, researchers say physically demanding work is significantly associated with preterm birth, maternal high blood pressure and underweight babies. Prolonged standing, shift work, and work fatigue are also closely associated with preterm birth.

"Activities that women engage in at work do affect their pregnancy outcome," said Dr. Ellen Mozurkewich, principal investigator of the study. "Employers should be willing to allow pregnant employees to modify activities or provide longer leave for pregnant women."

The number of working women has tripled in 40 years. Twice as many pregnant women worked within one month of delivery in 1985 compared to 1961. At the same time, preterm births rose from 8.8 percent in 1980 to 11.6 percent in 1998.